R. Roberta Throne, former supervisor of the oral hygiene department at Penn’s School of Dental Medicine, died December 15 in York, Pennsylvania. She was 99. 

Ms. York was born  in Bridgeton, Pennsylvania, on March 15, 1920. She graduated from Fawn Township, Pennsylvania High School in 1937. She graduated from the Course in Oral Hygiene in 1939 and then interned at Harrisburg State Hospital. Engaged in private practice until 1943, she served two years as a Pharmacist’s Mate 3/c in the United States Navy Women’s Reserve. She also worked in Lititz and Johnstown. Although her private practice took her to Illinois, where she served as a dental hygienist in Chicago, she returned to Pennsylvania in 1954. 

In 1955, she was appointed to the faculty at Penn’s School of Dental Medicine as an assistant Instructor in oral hygiene. After her appointment, she continued her education and earned a BS in education from West Chester State College and an MS in education from Penn. By 1959 she was promoted to assistant professor and, in the early 1960s, appointed supervisor of the department, a position she held for 10 years. During her tenure, the course was developed and strengthened in many areas, including the introduction of a course in public health dentistry and the promotion of a continuing education course. 

In addition to her faculty responsibilities, Ms. Throne strongly influenced the promotion of the dental hygienist movement. A charter member of the Iota Chapter of Sigma Phi Alpha, she was the president of the Pennsylvania Dental Hygienists Association in 1970. She was one of the first four hygienists appointed to the Council on Dental Education of the American Dental Association as a consultant with the accreditation program and was one of the initial group of regional consultants appointed by the American Dental Hygienists Association and American Association of Dental Schools to assist new dental hygiene schools with their planning. The Dental School appointed her to the admissions committee in 1957. Ms. Throne left Penn in 1972.

Ms. Throne is survived by her nieces and nephews.

---

To Report A Death

Almanac appreciates being informed of the deaths of current and former faculty and staff members, students and other members of the University community. Call (215) 898-5274 or email almanac@upenn.edu

However, notices of alumni deaths should be directed to the Alumni Records Office at Suite 300, 2929 Walnut St., (215) 898-8136 or email record@ben.dev.upenn.edu